Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1887-07-29
She Found Her Mamma.

The north-bound train had left
Austin, and Conductor Hughes was
making his usual round collecting
tickets He stopped in font of lit
tie girl who was crouched in corner
near the stove. Notwithstanding
that cold Northwestern was blowing,
she was thinly clad in torn ca leo
dress, and her feet were destitute of
shoes and stockings.
As she appeared to be alone, the
conductor asked
Have you q ticket, little giri?"
"What is that?"
"Didn't whoever put you On the
Car give you ticket!"
Nobody put US on the car. We
came all by ourselves, didn't We
dolly" she said, hugging dilapidat-
cd old doll.
Didn't your papa put you on the
carr"
"No, we didn't tell him we we're
coming, did we dolly"
The conductor took the little girls
hand in his. 1t was burning hot.
Her thin features were flushed and
her eyes were glistening with fever.
"Your clothes are tin. Don't you
feel cold sometimes?"
Yes, we feel so cold, but we hug
up close together, don't we dolly.
When | fnd mamma she'll give US
some new clothes and some new
shoes"
w here Is your mammal"
II don'G know, but I'il find her.
She told ME to come to her She
came into my room last night and
put her hands on me and kissed me
Just as she used TO before she went to
sleep in long box and went off on
the railroad"
The conductor was puzzled Had
the fever affected the childs head ?
II think you are lost little girl.
What is your name!"
"My name is Fanny, but mamma
used to call me little pet"
"I'll send you back to your papa.
You have got a papa, haven't you, in
Austin?"
A look of terror was frozen on the
little pinched features. Two thin
arms were thrown around the conduc-
tors neck.
"Please don't send me back to pa"
she said in pitcous accents. "My
new mamma will whip me and lock
me up in dark closet. Oh, please
don't send me back! I'll be so good,
I'll give you dolly. No; l can't give
you dolly. Mamma gave me dolly,
but I'll let you play with her. Please
let me stay with you till [ ind my
mamma"
"This is bad case of step mother"
said the conductor to himself. "This
is some poor, neglected little creature.
I've a notion to take her home aud
leave her with my kids. One more
won't make much difference"
I'll not send you home. Just lie
down here" he said, fixing her up
place tc lie on one of the seats.
The little &aif was contented and
happy. She laid down and the con-
ductor covered her with his overcoat.
Once or twice as he passed by, he
heard his little dead-head passenger
talking to her dolly about what they
would do when they found mamma.
At Taylor the north bound and
south-bound trains meet, and the pas
sengers got supper. AS soon as Con-
ductor Hughes stepped Oh the plat
form the operator called to him:
"Here, Bill, here is a telegram for
you"
He opened the envelope and read:
"Put runaway child in charge of
conductor of south-bound train for
Austin"
Poor little creature" he muttered,
"she has a hard time of it in this
world; but I'll wake her up and give
her some supper before send her
home to her folks"
He turned back into the car and
threw back the overcoat from the
sleeping child. She was hugging
her dolly to her breast There were
tears on her pale thin cheeks, but a
happy smile on her pinched features
Little pet" had found her mamma
SaCeet in ~ Y. Mercury.